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Workforce Incentive Program

The Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) aims to encourage medical practitioners to practise in regional, rural and remote communities and to promote careers in rural medicine through the provision of financial incentives, ranging from $4,500 up to $60,000.

Who’s eligible?

To be eligible, medical practitioners must provide:

  • a minimum amount of eligible primary care services and/or undertake GP registrar training placements under an approved training pathway in regional, rural and remote locations (Modified Monash Model 3-7) within Australia
  • a current Medicare provider number
  • bank account details to the Department of Human Services specifically for the WIP – Doctors Stream
  • proof of completed  number of active quarters for payment.

See the Workforce Incentive Program Guidelines for further details.

  • There are 2 payment systems used for incentive program, the Central Payment System (CPS) and the Flexible Payment System (FPS).

    Central Payment System (CPS)

    Medical practitioners who bill Medicare for eligible services receive automated payments from Services Australia after completion of the required number of active quarters for an initial payment.

    Flexible Payment System (FPS)

    Medical practitioners who provide eligible non-Medicare services and/or undertake training that is not reflected in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) records can apply for payments under the Flexible Payment System.

    Medical practitioners may apply for a ‘top-up’ payment under the FPS if they fit into the Alternative Employment Provisions and have not billed the MBS for all eligible services, or if they meet the eligibility requirements under the Special Top-Up Provisions.

    If you who provide most of your services in the NT should apply for the incentive.

  • To apply under the FPS:

    If you are a GP registrar, please make sure your training authority signs off on your application form.

    Apply now

  • The WIP Rural Advanced Skills payment recognises that doctors working in regional, rural and remote areas are often required to use additional advanced skills (procedural and non-procedural) to meet the health care needs of their communities.

    The new payments consist of 2 separate payment streams:

    • Stream 1: Emergency Medicine – from $4,000 up to $10,500 per annum for doctors providing a minimum level of emergency care and emergency after hours services (in eligible locations).
    • Stream 2: Advanced Skills – from $4,000 up to $10,500 per annum for doctors who hold recognised qualifications in advanced skills (such as obstetrics, anaesthetics, surgery, mental health and/or First Nations Health) and provide a minimum level of service using these skills.

    The WIP – Rural Advanced Skills payments are:

    • scaled to encourage service delivery in more remote areas
    • based on the number of advanced skills rosters worked in eligible locations, with a roster defined as 4 hours or longer in a 24-hour period.

    Eligible medical practitioners and Rural Generalists can claim either or both payment streams where they meet eligibility requirements and reach service thresholds.

    To learn more about the WIP-Rural Advanced Skills, including eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Department of Health website.

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